resemble the polytheists: they either introduce religious innovations, invoke divine decree to justify their actions, or combine the two.

As Allah Most High says of the polytheists:

“When they commit an indecency, they say, ‘We found our fathers doing this, and Allah has commanded us to do it.’ Say, ‘Allah does not command indecency. Do you say about Allah what you do not know?’”

And as He, Most High, says of them:

“Those who associate partners with Allah will say, ‘Had Allah willed, neither we nor our fathers would have associated partners with Him, nor would we have forbidden anything.’”

He has also described the religious practices invented by the polytheists, involving declaring the unlawful lawful and performing worship that Allah has not prescribed, in passages such as His saying, Most High:

“They say, ‘These livestock and crops are restricted; none may eat them except those we permit’—so they claim. There are livestock whose backs they forbid for riding, and livestock over which they do not mention Allah’s name, falsely attributing this to Him.”

This continues to the end of the surah.

Likewise, in Sūrat al-Aʿrāf, He says:

“O children of Adam, do not let Satan tempt you as he drove your parents out of Paradise,”

up to His saying:

“When they commit an indecency, they say, ‘We found our fathers doing this, and Allah has commanded us to do it.’ Say, ‘Allah does not command indecency,’”

then to His saying:

“Say, ‘My Lord has commanded justice.’ Direct your faces toward Him at every place of worship,”

then to His saying:

“Eat and drink, but do not be excessive. Indeed, He does not love those who are excessive.”

“Say, ‘Who has forbidden the adornment Allah has brought forth for His servants, and the good things He has provided?’”

Then to His saying:

“Say, ‘My Lord has only forbidden indecencies, whether openly or in secret; sin; unjust aggression; associating partners with Allah for which He has sent down no authority; and saying about Allah what you do not know.’”